Men's Health > Hair Loss > Treatments

Hair Loss Treatments

Some men don’t think that hair loss treatments are a subject worthy of their attention.

Of course, once they start to see more of their hair in the ending up in the sink, or in the tub, than they see on their head ... feelings begin to change.

This can certainly be of the most stressful experiences in a man’s life, and a rather harrowing realization.

A number of factors can lead to hair loss, and thus to hair loss treatments. Some of these factors include:

• Diet (such as deficiency of Vitamins C and B)
• Stress places on the hair and scalp due to excessive style or harsh hair care products
• Stress and anxiety (which, ironically, can also be the result of hair loss!)
• Damage to the scalp as a result of injury
• Clogged hair follicles due to dandruff

Other factors, such as medical treatments (i.e. chemotherapy, medication for Crohn’s Disease) can also lead to hair loss and the need for hair loss treatments.

Available Hair Loss Treatments

The most popular topical hair loss treatment is Minoxidil, or “Rogaine” as it is better known in drug stores. Rogaine is available without a prescription, and has proven to be effective for some men. It is, however, not a “guaranteed solution”, and there is no generally accepted awareness of how long men will need to use Rogaine; it could be a few applications, or prolonged use. Rogaine is also rather expensive; though, for some men, this is a worthy investment when they consider the alternative!

Finasteride, or “Propecia”, is another of the popular common hair loss treatments available on the market. Propecia, which often helps to slow down the rate of hair loss, is taken orally. It is not recommended for women (who also experience hair loss and thus require hair loss treatments), and can lead to some side effects, including sexual dysfunction (such as erectile dysfunction).

Anthralin is another popular solution for men seeking hair loss treatments. Anthralin is used topically, is a tar-like substance, and has proven to be effective in some cases. Some men have reported some scalp irritation when using Anthralin, so caution is recommended; particularly for men with sensitive skin.

Additional Hair Loss Treatments

Ultraviolet Ray therapy is also receiving some growing approval as one of the many effective hair loss treatments available. There is some concern, however, that the ultraviolet rays can promote skin cancer. This is being researched at the current time, and further advancements in this technology could be quite promising.

In addition to the remedies noted above, there are some alternative therapies that are growing in popularity. Acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology, Chinese medicine, and magnetic therapy all have hair loss treatment applications. While there is no guarantee that these therapies will work, there is some interest in exploring them further because the side effects are negligible compared to some other treatments. Other alternative hair loss treatment methods include applying caster oil topically on the scalp, and applying coconut oil on the scalp.

Drew Voight